The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, November 11, 1999, Image 3

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Page 3 • Thursday, November 11, 1999
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‘Devour the Snow 5
Students depict events which
satorizi followed Donner Party tragedy
BY BRIAN FLEMING
The Battalion
MAC: The 25':
bration will be
in MSC 225-221
will be held in®
i The banquet :|f>annibalism is the driving force behind a tragic event in America’s his-
e cost is $10 pep tor Y — die story of the Donner Party. For th.e next week, the Texas
information, co'll^A&M Department of Theater will portray one aspect of this historical
at 845-1515. de in their production of “Devour the Snow”.
Robert Wenck, director of the production and a professor of theater arts,
I Creek Cleanup: lid the play begins after the tragic ordeal of several travelers of whom were
help cleaup W! treed to take desperate measures to ensure their survival,
ie parking lot of : »Venck said the production will depict a trial which took part after the
ogram, 1000Di: roup was rescued.
Research Park. i'After all of what went on, there was only one legal action,” Wenck said.
It was a trial of slander in which a man who resulted to cannibalism was
ued by two of the others whose children he ate. The [slander] case was
1 r\rnP r ^ mout hi n g him and calling him a vulture.”
^ UrLUl Venc ^ sa id this story remains interesting even today.
—■‘It still remains a quite controversial topic and it makes a good play,”
UME Z u Venck said, “which is why we are doing it.”
Doii f ftvenck said the background of this ordeal is important in understand-
ng the production.
'/Ob ^ |‘The Donner Party first took off from Missouri to California as part of a
^0 vagon train to find the land of golden opportunity,” Wenck said. “Along
,he way they made several bad decisions and found themselves trapped in
yhat wound up to be the coldest winter on record with 30-feet-deep snow.”
jWenck said to survive the group took part in a number of desper-
te measures.
f They ate leather, leaves and dried grass,” Wenck said. “Eventually,
vhen they began to die, they would eat each other.”
■James Anderson, a member of the technical crew and a senior history
major, said the production will offer a number of interesting aspects such
is the obscurity of a topic many rarely discuss.
_JAnderson said the energy within the play will most likely appeal to au-
lience members as well.
/noci««ip- “There is a high amount of tension,” Anderson said, “and it creates a
15 note of realism as well.”
—^TffiAbbie Johnson, a cast member and junior theater arts and English ma
jor, said the production features a number of interesting costumes, and the
Use of makeup is also notable.
‘The costumes are very to-the-period, which is fascinating to see the
;things they actually wore,” she said. “My husband in the play has frost
bite on his face, so it is really interesting to see what that looks like,
lalso.”
Johnson said the characters’ unnatural activities provide a unique an-
?{e for audiences to ponder.
CODY WAGES/The Battalion
Students portray historical figures from the legal battle that resulted from the Donner Party tragedy in the theater department’s Devour the Snow.
“Knowing that these people ate each others families is a very emotion
al topic,” Johnson said. “It can be very interesting as well since this is some
thing many do not know much about.”
Wenck said the production will offer opportunities for young actors to
gain experience.
“The characterizations are very interesting and they give a lot of room
for actor development,” Wenck said. “And that is what we are all about
here — actor training and theater study.”
Anderson said he has learned the value of teamwork by participating
in this production.
“Overall, this play has taught me how to work as a group and [that]
everyone has a part to play,” Anderson said. “In the end, it all comes
together.”
Anderson said his involvement i'n the play was sparked from taking
THAR 135, a technical theater class, in which he helped build the set for
the play. Afterwards he was offered the opportunity to work with the pro
duction, as well.
While the work schedule was strenuous, Anderson said since he vol
unteered for this he has learned a lot from his experience.
“At first it was pretty difficult,” Anderson said. “I had never done any
thing like it before. But eventually I got the hang of it and it has become a
lot easier.”
Johnson said her part in the production has benefited her in a num
ber of ways.
“I play a role with a lot of emotional packaging behind it,” Johnson
said. “It really lets me explore more of who I am.”
Although the emotional content of the play is important, Anderson said
the story’s historical background should not be overlooked.
“By seeing this, you can learn a lot from such a historical topic,” An
derson said. “I know that by being a part of this, I did.”
Dr.
,ND LOCKYOUlU
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Battalion. For campus, local, anl^
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